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Have you received a notice of intended prosecution letter? Whether you’re unsure about what it means or you’re looking to appeal the case, we’re confident that our team of experienced driving solicitors can help!

Whether you’ve experienced the sinking feeling of spotting a camera flash after driving at high speed or you’ve accidentally run a red light, a notice of intended prosecution is what you’ll receive if you are caught committing some form of driving offence.

Here at 1Solicitors, we have a team of dedicated solicitors who can help you to understand your rights as a motorist, and appeal a notice of intended prosecution wherever possible. With access to some of the country’s best barristers, we’re pretty confident about being able to defend you in Court and see a reduction in your consequences!

What is a notice of intended prosecution?

A notice of intended prosecution, often abbreviated to a NIP, is given to you when a Policing body has evidence that you’ve committed a driving offence. This is usually photographs taken at the time of the event.

Simply put, it’s a notice from your local Police department that informs you of their intentions to prosecute you for committing a driving offence.

A notice of intended prosecution letter has to be written in a specific format and comply with the Road Traffic Offenders Act of 1988.

How do you get one?

If you are not stopped by the Police for committing a motoring-related offence, you may be cautioned via a notice of intended prosecution letter in the post. This usually happens in cases where motorists have been caught by a speeding camera, or been pictured crossing the white line after traffic lights have turned red.

The most common reasons for receiving a NIP are:

Speeding endorsements

Dangerous or careless driving

Leaving a vehicle in a ‘dangerous’ place, such as on the corner of a road

Driving through red lights or failing to stop

Overtaking on a road where it is not permitted

In this case, the evidence will be processed by your local Police department who will then serve a notice of intended prosecution for speeding, or the offence you’ve committed.

You can also be handed a NIP if you’re stopped by a Police officer whilst driving your car if they’ve witnessed you commit an offence. This can be either verbally, in the form of a letter to your home address, or a summons.

The Police have a 14-day window between being notified of your driving offence to handing the registered keeper a notice of intended prosecution letter, so you should receive one in the post within two weeks.

Court processes for notice of intended prosecution offences

We mentioned earlier that once the Police have spotted your offence, they have 14 days to serve a notice of intended prosecution to the vehicle’s registered keeper. In this letter, you’ll be asked to confirm the identity of the driver who committed the offence.

This part of the process for your driving endorsements means that you’re legally obliged to admit to your fault, or provide details of the person who is.

Once you’ve responded to your NIP letter, the person who is at-fault will determine the consequences of your offence.

Consequences of driving endorsements

You must respond to your notice of intended prosecution letter within 28 days. Failure to do so will mean that you’re guilty of another legal offence (failing to provide driver information) and you may receive six points on your driving license, along with a fine of up to £1,000.

Even if you do respond to the notice of intended prosecution letter within this time, you still should be expecting some form of consequence for your offence. However, this can vary depending on the severity of your case and the person at-fault.

You may be offered a driving education course as part of your punishment after receiving an NIP, or a fixed penalty fine of points on your license and a fine for the offence.

If the case is severe, you may receive a letter to inform you of a Court hearing to discuss the offence. Here, the case will be discussed and a Judge will decide on the best punishment.

Why choose our team of expert solicitors?

Whichever offence you’ve committed in order to receive a notice of intended prosecution or driving endorsement, you can rest assured that our team will do all we can to reduce your punishment. Whether we’re arguing to reduce a fine or swap a fixed penalty notice for a driver’s educational course (such as a speed awareness programme), we’ll do everything in our power to put together a strong defence case with the best chance of success.

When you proceed with our team, you’ll also get:

Clear pricing structure from the outset

Unlike the majority of firms, we pride ourselves on offering a clear pricing structure for you – starting from your initial appointment. That means that there won’t be any unexpected fees and together, we can assess the financial aspect of putting together a strong defence claim that results in a better punishment for your situation.

24/7 legal advice and support

We understand that receiving a notice of intended prosecution letter can spark worry – no matter what time of the day you start to think about it. For that reason, we offer a 24/7 support line to help you through your case and ease your anxieties about dealing with the notification.

Convenient Skype appointments

We’re also proud to offer Skype appointments to all of our clients. Not only does this mean that you can truly get the most out of our 24/7 service, but you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home to speak to our notice of intended prosecution solicitors!

Not sure what to do about your notice of intended prosecution offences?

Getting a NIP letter through the post can be daunting – even if it wasn’t you who committed the offence. However, it’s best to consult a solicitor as soon as you receive the letter in order to make a head start on putting together a successful defence case.

Book your initial appointment today!

So, if you’ve received a notice of intended prosecution for speeding and are unsure on the next best step to take to appeal your driving endorsements, contact us online and allow us to help.

Can I still receive a notice of intended prosecution if it wasn’t me driving the vehicle at the time of the offence?

Yes, although you don’t have to face the consequences! If you weren’t driving the vehicle at the time of the offence, you must respond to your NIP letter and provide the full details of the person who was. The charge will then be transferred from yourself to the actual driver.

Should I consult a driving solicitor before responding to my notice of intended prosecution letter?

While you’re able to respond to your NIP without seeking legal advice, we always advise that you consult a specialist solicitor before doing so. This will allow you to check that it isn’t a false letter before handing over your details, along with advise the best way to defend your case, should it go to Court.

Will I get a NIP if I committed an offence in a hire car?

Because the letter goes to the registered keeper of the vehicle, you won’t receive a notification of prosecution until the keeper provides your details to the Police.

Did you know that being one of the leading driving offence firms in the UK, we’ve got priority access to some of the country’s best barristers? Their Court experience combined with our expert legal knowledge means that there’s no better route to getting a better result for your speeding endorsements!